Questions Answered: Jadeveon Clowney Rumors, David Ojabo’s Draft Stock, Cap-Clearing Maneuvers
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by PurplePTSD. Today is the March 21st edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
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Q: Is there anything to the Jadeveon Clowney chatter?
A: Yes.
The Vikings need a pass rusher to pair with Danielle Hunter. And if it isn’t Za’Darius Smith, who will meet with the Vikings soon about a free-agent contract, Clowney is a sensible alternative.
When healthy, Clowney is dynamic. His problem? He’s played just one season of eight with complete health. In all other seasons besides 2017, Clowney missed at least one game — and usually more — due to injury.
Plus, signing Clowney would make it five teams in five years for the defender, so one must bank a lot of hope on “this time will be different.”
In theory, though, if he could remain healthy, Clowney would be an outstanding free-agent grab for Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
Q: Would the Vikings still draft David Ojabo after his Achilles’ injury?
A: Yes, but not with the 12th overall pick.
Ojabo’s draft stock will now tumble because he won’t play football in the near future. The Vikings could target him in the 2nd or 3rd Round after his unfortunate injury over the weekend.
Achilles’ injuries aren’t the death sentence from decades past, but Ojabo’s draft stock will plummet. A patient team, however, will get a gem of a 2023 pass rusher.
Q: What else can the Vikings do to free up cap space?
A: They can convert Danielle Hunter’s 2022 earnings to bonus money, restructure other veterans, or trade players.
And those are in descending degrees of likelihood. If Adofo-Mensah wants to sign Smith, Clowney, or a cornerback, Hunter’s wallet would likely be targeted. Mind you, Hunter wouldn’t lose money — the financial hit for the Vikings would just be pushed into the future.
Otherwise, the team can ask veterans like Eric Kendricks or Dalvin Cook to restructure.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. His YouTube Channel, VikesNow, debuts in March 2022. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
Purple PTSD Also Read: How Adam Thielen Earned His Spot in Minnesota